Gwangju Buk-gu Pyeongdume Wetland Registered as Region's First 'Ramsar Wetland'

On the 13th, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City announced that ‘Pyeongdume Wetland,’ located in Mudeungsan National Park, has been officially registered as the first Ramsar Wetland in the region and the 26th in South Korea by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.

A Ramsar Wetland is a site recognized by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat as requiring international conservation due to its rare and unique wetland type in terms of geomorphology and geology, or its high conservation value as a habitat for wildlife, in accordance with the international treaty promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

The Pyeongdume Wetland registered this time is a mountain inland wetland located at 530 Hwaam-dong, Buk-gu (within Mudeungsan National Park). It is characterized as a natural fallow paddy wetland formed in rice paddies where farming is not practiced.

It is also a collective breeding site for various amphibians such as the Korean brown frog and salamanders, and is home to a total of 786 species of wildlife, including rare plants like Nakjidal and Gaedaehwang, natural monuments such as the Blakiston's fish owl, little owl, and mandarin duck, as well as endangered species like otters, leopard cats, and martens. Due to its high scenic and ecological conservation value, it was designated as a ‘Special Protection Zone of the National Park’ in 2020.

Recognizing Pyeongdume Wetland as an ecological treasure and an important habitat for diverse species, Buk-gu began the process of registering it as a Ramsar Wetland in April last year in collaboration with the Mudeungsan National Park Office. Following this, they held community briefings and collected opinions until January this year, then submitted the registration review materials to the Ministry of Environment.

Subsequently, with active cooperation from the Ministry of Environment, the official letter requesting Ramsar Wetland registration was formally submitted to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat in February. In response, Buk-gu promoted activities such as operating the ‘Ramsar Wetland Registration Prayer Exploration Team’ and signing a business agreement for the efficient conservation and use of Pyeongdume Wetland until last month, thereby spreading local consensus on the wetland’s conservation value.

As a result, based on Buk-gu’s proactive efforts and after review by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Pyeongdume Wetland was officially recognized as the first Ramsar Wetland in the Gwangju area starting from the 13th of this month. This brings South Korea’s total number of Ramsar Wetlands to 26 since the first registration in 1997.

Moon In, the mayor of Buk-gu, said, “This Ramsar Wetland registration is highly significant as it internationally acknowledges Pyeongdume Wetland’s role as a core habitat for various species and its conservation value.” He added, “In line with the purpose of the Ramsar Convention, we will do our best to conserve the wetland and promote its wise use so that Pyeongdume Wetland can provide ecological benefits to both nature and people.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.